Alex Skolnick teaches chord tones

Chord tones: Jimi Hendrix used them, and so did James Hetfield on Nothing Else Matters. Now it's your turn to try them out in your playing.

In this video lesson, Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick explains how learning triads in all positions up the neck can be a quick 'in point' to playing with chord tones.

Chord tones overview

You can use the notes from chords to make melodies. These chord melodies sound great for solo guitar because as you play the tune the chords provide a backing. A good way to start making up chord melody ideas is to learn triads. Triads are three note chords that consist of a root, a 3rd and a 5th. In a C major chord those notes are C, E and G.

You can play these notes in loads of different positions, which all give different melodic possibilities. Once you've got the hang of the chords, check out Alex's improvised chord melody (tabbed on page two). Alex mixes up some slightly more complex triads with a tasteful melody.